Treasury could face £1bn bill if universities raise fees to £9,000

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The cost to the Treasury if universities charge more than £7,500 a year could
reach almost a billion pounds, according to official figures.

Government estimates indicate that if universities charge an average of £8,500
per student a year, it will cost the public purse an additional £509
million.

Ministers had hoped that vice-chancellors would set an average fee of £7,500,
but many have said that they intend to charge more. If they all cluster
around the highest charge of £9,000 a year, it will cost an extra three
quarters of a billion pounds annually.